Electronic musical instrument

ABSTRACT

An electronic musical instrument having a simplified circuit arrangement intermediate the instrument key circuit and a control signal circuit, and including a pair of matrix circuits for connection through an array of switching and gate means of a speaker and amplifier.

United States Patent 1191 Obayashi Aug. 14, 1973 ELECTRONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT [56] References Cited [75 I Inventor: Nobuharu Obayaslii, UNITED ATES PATENTS Shizuoka-ken. Japan 3,610,799 10/1971 Watson 84/].26 3,617,602 11/1971 Kniepkamp.... 84/Ll7 73| Assigneez Kabushiki Kaish Kawal Gakkl 3,696,201 10 1972 Arsem ct al. 84/101 Seisakusho, Shizuoka-ken, Japan 22 Filed: p 4 1972 Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson A 31354"! EaeWw-U- Weldon PP 240,976 Attorney-Eric H. Waters, John G. Schwafiz et ai.

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT Apr. 5, 1971 Japan 46/20294 An electronic musical instrument having a Simplified Apr. 6, 1971 Japan 46/20712 Cirwit arrangement intermediate the instrument y circuit and a control signal circuit, and including a pair 52 us. c1. ..s4/1.o1,s4/1.03, 84/l.17 of matrix circuits for connection through an array of [51] Int. Cl. Gl0h 1/00 Switching and gate means of a Speaker and amplifier- 581 Field of Search 84/l.01, 1.03, 1.17, 4 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 14, 1973 6 Sheets-Sheet l Ext Patented Aug. 14, 1973 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 14, 1973 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 JL 4L JL 5 w 4L E 1C IE 3 L IE [E m i JL w i QvMwR Ii!!! l HT 6 m :IIIII JL J17 u %\k EC JlL a E m M Mr m m u C I C SvwE i 6 E M St alll'lll E 1111 LEAST! @vwfi 5E g e iqqiflpl ij q @v m 5 it .5 m w\| Patented Aug. 14, 1973 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 14, 1973 6 Sheets-.Shuet 6 ELECTRONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an electronic musical instrument and, more particularly, to an instrument providing for a simplified mutual connection between a key switch or tablet switch relation circuit and a control signal circuit, and a simplified signal selection circuit, providing for the ready wiring of its connections, and having a very small SN ratio.

DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART Electronic musical instruments of the general type disclosed herein have been heretofore proposed. In particular, a similar electronic musical instrument is shown in applicants earlier copending US. Patent Application No. 215,055, filed Jan. 3, I972.

The prior electronic musical instrument incorporates a multiplex counter circuit comprising three matrix circuits on its output side, and an array of output terminals, key switches, pulse selective and gate circuits connected to an amplifier and speaker through an extensive connecting network, described in greater detail hereinbelow. In essence, although the prior electronic musical instrument is generally satisfactory, it requires an unduly complex electronic circuitry and connection rendering it expensive and cumbersome to manufacture, service and maintain. Furthermore, the extremely large number of circuit components'involve'd in the prior art electronic musical insrument increases the possibility of operative failure of the instrument because of malfunctioning of one or more of the multitudinous components.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The electronic musical instrument according to the present invention, in order to ameliorate and obviate the drawbacks encountered by the complex structure of the prior art instrument, greatly simplifies the circuitry of the instrument while concurrently providing an electronic musical instrument having avery small desirable SN ratio. In this connection, the inventive electronic musical instrument has the following essential and preferred features:

A first feature of the present instrument consist of in that a multiplex counter circuit is provided on its output side with first and second matrix circuits, whereby pulse signals which are time-delayed may be successively taken out from plural output terminals of these two matrix circuits, and in which the output terminals of the first matrix circuit are connected to respective changeover switches each having a normally closed contact and a normally open contact. The normally closed contacts and the normally open contacts are each connected to respective common conductors, and these conductors and the output terminals of the second matrix circuit are connected to a pulse selective circuit. Consequently, upon closing of the normally open contact of any predetermined selected change over switch, a corresponding one of plural gate circuits connected to the output side of the selective circuit is closed to permit a sound or audio signal to pass therethrough; while through closing of the normally closed contact the gate circuit is opened so as to prevent the sound signal from passing therethrough.

In a second embodiment of the present invention, the aforedescribed normally closed contacts are omitted and the conductor which was normally connected to those contacts is now connected through a NOT circuit to the conductor on the normally open contacts side, so that, upon any switch being opened from its closed position, it causes the NOT circuit to generate a signal to open the gate circuit.

As indicated hereinabove, in comparison with the earlier instrument, in the present invention the matrix circuits required may consist of only two, in effect, first and second matrix circuits, and in which output terminals of the first matrix circuit are provided with respective changeover switches each having a normally closed contact and a normally open contact whereby, upon closing of the normally open contact of any desired switch, the corresponding gate circuit is opened, and whereby, upon opening of the normally closed contact, the gate circuit is closed; or it is arranged that, when the switch is opened from its closed position, the NOT circuit is energized to convey a signal for opening to the gate circuit. Thus, in an advantageous manner, the third matrix circuit of the earlier musical instrument may be readily omitted, permitting the wiring to be extremely reduced and simplified, providing an economical instrument construction, and permitting the SN ratio to become extremely small since the sound signal now does not pass through the first and second matrix circuits, the pulse selective circuit and the like.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved and novel electronic musical instrument of the type described, having an extremely simple circuitry and the desired operative and audio characteristics.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS I Reference may now be had to the illustrative embodiments of the electronic musical instrument taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a prior art electronic musical instrument operative circuit;

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram illustrating a first embodiment of an electronic musical instrument according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a chart showing output wave forms at each section of the circuit of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing output wave forms at each section of FIG. 2 elucidating the operation thereof;

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram illustrative of a second embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing a modification of a portion of the circuit of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is'a circuit diagram showing another embodiment of this invention; and

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing output wave forms at each section of the circuit of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now in detail to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows the prior art circuit of the electronic musical instrumentdisclosed in Ser. No. 215,055.

As shown in FIG. l, a multiplex counter circuit is provided on its output side with first, second and third matrix circuits 130, and output terminals ll0-l......l 10-11 of the first matrix circuit 110 are connected through respective key switches l40-l......l40-n to a single common conductor 150, and this conductor and output terminals 120-l......120-n of the second matrix circuit 120 are connected to a pulse selective circuit 60, and output terminals of the circuit 160 are connected to gate circuits 170 170-n provided correspondingly with the abovementioned switches 140 ..l40-n, whereby, upon closing any desired switch 140-k, the corresponding gate circuit 170-k is closed and thereby a sound signal generated at a sound signal generating source 180 is permitted to pass therethrough so as to drive a speaker 200 through an amplifier 190. Additionally, output terminals 130-1.....l30-n of the third matrix circuit 130 are similarly connected to the pulse selective circuit 160, whereby, upon opening of the aforementioned switch 140-k, an output signal from the third matrix circuit 130 closes the gate circuit 170-KO so as to stop the sound signal from passing therethrough.

As becomes readily apparent, this requires at least three matrix circuits and a complex array of ancillary circuitry.

In comparison, the present electronic musical instrument incorporates the following components and circuitry:

FIG. 2 illustrates an instancein which the invention is applied to a key switch circuit. Numeral 1 denotes a multiplex counter circuit driven by an oscillator 2, and this circuit 1 comprises three binary circuits la, lb and 10 so that pulses, as are shown inFIG. 3 -I, may be ob.- tained at. their output terminals A A, B Ii, C'G-The pulses as shown in FIG. 3 II and III are taken out in successively time-delayed relationship at their output terminals 3-l.....3-8 and 4-1.....4-'8. Numerals 5-l..-...5-8 designate changeover switches provided on the output terminals of the first matrix circuit 3, and wherein each of these switches has a normally open contact and a normally closed contact. The normally opened contacts and the ordinarily closed contacts are respectively connected in common to form two conductors 6, 7. Hereinafter, the conductor 6 is designated as a set terminal and the conductor 7 is designated as a reset terminal. Numeral 8 denotes a pulse selective circuit which comprises AND gate circuits 9-l.....9-8 connected to terminals for setting of flip-flop circuits FF ...FF provided on its output side and AND gate circuits 10-1.....10-8 connected to terminals for resetting of the same. The AND gate circuits 9-1.....9-8 and l0-1.....10-8 are connected at their input terminals to the second matrix circuits 4-1.....4-8, the set terminal 6 is connected to the AND gate circuits 9-l.....9-8, whereas the reset terminal 7 is connected to the AND gate circuits l0-1.....l0-8. Gate circuits 11-l.....1l-8 are connected to the output terminals of the flip-flop circuits FF ....FF, and the closing and opening of those gate circuits serve to control passing of a sound or audio signal from a sound signal oscillator 12. These gate circuits 1l-l.....I1- 8 are connected at their input terminals to output terminals of the corresponding frequencies of the oscillator 12 and are connected at their output terminals to a speaker 14 through an amplifier 13.

If any desired key is pushed and the corresponding one, for example, 5-2 of the changeover switches 5-I.....5-8 is changed to close the normally open contact thereof, the pulse signal at the second order in FIG. 3-" extends through the set terminal 6 as shown in FIG. 4a and is applied to the AND gate circuits 9-l.....9-8. At the same time, the pulse signal at the second order in FIG. 3-Ill (FIG. 4b) is applied to the second gate circuit 9-2 through the second order output terminal 4-2 of the second matrix circuit 4, so that the second order AND gate circuit 9-2 is opened and the signal l is applied to the flip-flop circuit FF,, whereby the flip-flop circuit FF, is given the setting shown in (FIG. 4e). Thus, through the output thereof, the second gate circuit 1 1-2 is opened and the output signal from the oscillator 12 is allowed to pass therethrough (FIG. 4f) so as to operate the speaker 14 through the amplifier 13. If, thereafter, the depression of the key is continued, during that time the plural number of signal 1" is conveyed through the gate circuit 9-2 to the flip-flop circuit FF, as shown in FIG. 4c, but the flip-flop circuit FF, is not reset and the open position of the gate circuit 11-2 is maintained. Subsequently, if the depression of the key is released, the normally open contact is again opened and the normally closed contact is closed, so that the pulse of the output terminal 3-2 is conveyed to the AND gate circuit 10-2 through the reset terminal 7 (FIG. 4d), and whereby, through this pulse and the pulse signal from the second output terminal 4-2 of the second matrix circuit 4 (FIG. 4b), the AND gate circuit 10-2 is opened so as to .cause the flip-flop circuit FF,

to reset. Consequently, the gate circuit 11-2 is closed and the operation of the speaker 14 ceases. The above is an illustration in which the number of the keys is six.

Kit is assumed that the timedifference between two sounds which cannot be distinguished through hearing is about 8 msecL, it is necessary thatmore than eight pulses are generated within 8 msec. Accordi n'gly, the oscillation frequencY of the oscillator 2 is sufficient at above 500 Hz. For the oscillator 2, for example, a portion of the sound signal source oscillator 12 can be used. The above is illustrated with respect to an embodiment in which the number of thekeys is eight.

If, however, for example, the number of keys is 61, it is required that the number of the binary circuits constituting the multiplex counter circuit 1 is 6, and the first and the second matrix circuits each has 61 output terminals. In this instance, the numberof the conductors connecting between the multiplex counter circuit land the first matrix circuit 3 becomes 12, that of the output conductor becomes 1 and that of the electric source relation becomes 3 and thus the number of the conductors leading out from the key switch relation circuit, including the first matrix circuit 3, is sufficient with only a total of 16. In this instance, it is necessary that the oscillation frequency of the oscillator 2 constituting a part of the multiplex counter circuit 1 is about 4,000 Hz.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment in which the invention is applied to a tone color circuit. First and second matrix circuits 16, 17 are connected to the A A, B 13 of multiplex counter circuit 1 as shown in FIG. 2, and tone color selective changeover switches l8-1.....l8-4 are provided on output terminals 16-1.....16-4 of the first matrix circuit 16. Set and reset terminals 19, 20 connecting normally closed contacts and normally open contacts of these switches and output terminals l7-l.....l7-4 of the second matrix circuit 17 are connected to a pulse selective circuit 21, and output terminals of flip-flop circuits 22-l.....22-4 provided on the output side thereof, are connected to gate circuits 23-1.....23-4 interposed in parallel one with another in a circuit connecting between the sound source oscillator 12 and the speaker 14. Additionally, tone color forming circuits 24-l.....24-4 are provided on the output sides of the gate circuits 23-1.....23-4. Numeral 11-1....11-8 denotes gate circuits analogous to those in FIG. 2, and these gate circuits are arranged so as to be opened by depressing of any of the keys so as to allow a signal from the sound source oscillator 12 to pass therethrough. Consequently, if any desired one of the tone color selective changeover switches l8-l.....l8-4 is switched so as to close the ordinarily open contact, in almost the same manner as in the case of key switch operation in FIG. 2, the corresponding one of the flipflop circuits 22-l.....22-4 is set and the corresponding one of the gate circuits 23-l.....23-4 connected thereto is opened. A sound signal passed through any of the foregoing gate circuits ll-l.....ll-8 is allowed to pass through this opened one of the gate circuits 23-I.....23-4 and the corresponding one of the tone color forming circuits 24-l.....24-4 is operated so as to produce a tone color forming and to drive the speaker 14 through the amplifier 13.

FIG. 6 shows a tone color selective combination circuit, and in which tone color selective changeover switches as shown in FIG. 5 a e positioned to form three stages, that is, a first stage of l8-1...-..18-3, a second stage of 28-1'.....l8-3', and a third stage of l8-l".....l8-3", and in which the set terminal 19 and the reset terminal 20 are connected to a gang-type changeover switch 25, so that by the changeover operation of the switch 25 any desired tone color may be obtained. The fourth order contact 26 of the switch 25 is for a full organ. If the third row of the set terminals 19 and that of the reset terminals 20 are connected thereto through an OR circuit 27, the entire tone color forming circuit may be rendered operable if the same is selectively connected.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment in which the normally closed contacts in FIG. 2 are omitted and the conductor 7 which was connected thereto is now connected to the conductor 6 through a NOT circuit 30. In comparison with the embodiment of FIG. 2, the-plural normally closed contacts and the output conductor thereof are omitted and therefore the number of the conductor led out from the key switch relation circuit including the first matrix circuit 3 becomes only one. Each reference numeral in FIG. 7 corresponds to that in FIG. 2. The operation thereof is substantially similar to that of FIG. 1, except for the following: In effect, as shown in FIG. 8d, a negative pulse signal is generated on the output side of the NOT circuit 30 when the key switch S-k is closed. This negative pulse does not provide a special effect. When the AND gate l-k becomes ON" by a signal I caused by the opening of the foregoing key switch -k and a pulse signal supplied from the second matrix circuit 4, the flipflop circuit FF is provided with a reset signal and accordingly the gate circuit ll-k is closed. It is quite obvious that the circuit shown in FIG. 7 is not limited to the key switch relation circuit but may also be used as a tone color circuit.

While there has been shown what is considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious that modifications may be made which come within the scope of the disclosure of the specification.

What is claimed is:

l. A circuit for an electronic musical instrument comprising a multiplex counter circuit, first and second matrix circuits, a plurality of conductors interconnecting said matrix circuits, said second matrix circuit being connected to the output side of said multiplex counter circuit, said two matrix circuits having plural output terminals issuing pulse signals in a successively delayed relationship, changeover switches each having a normally closed contact and a normally open contact being connected to the output terminals of said first matrix circuit, said normally closed contacts and said normally open contacts being connected to respective common conductors, a pulse selective circuit connected to said common conductors and to the output terminals of said second matrix circuit, and plural gate circuits connected to the output side of the selective circuits whereby, upon closing of the normally open contact of any predetermined one of the changeover switches, the corresponding one of said plural gate circuits connected to the output side of the selective circuit is opened to allowa signal to pass therethrough, and upon closing of the normally closed contact, said gate circuit is closed so as to prevent the signal from passing therethrough.

2. A circuit for an electronic musical instrument comprising a multiplex counter circuit, first and second matrix circuits, a plurality of conductors interconnecting said matrix circuits, said second matrix circuit being connected to the output side of said multiplex counter circuit, said first and second matrix circuits having a plurality of output terminals, the output terminals of said first matrix circuit being connected through a plurality of respective switches to a single common conductor, said conductor having a second conductor diverging therefrom, a NOT circuit interposed in said second conductor, a pulse selective circuit connected to the output terminals of said second matrix, and a plurality of gate circuits corresponding in number to said plurality of switches being provided on the output said (gate) selective circuit (circuits) being connected to said NOT circuit by said second conductor and to said plurality of switches by said common conductor whereby, upon closing of any predetermined one of said switches, a corresponding gate circuit is opened to allow a signal to pass therethrough, and wherein opening of the switch closes the gate circuit so as to prevent the signal from passing therethrough.

3. A circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pulse selective circuit comprises plural flip-flop circuits connected to the input terminals of the plural gate circuits, plural AND gates connected to input terminals for setting of the flip-flop circuits, and plural AND gates connected to input terminals for resetting of the plural flipflop circuits.

4. A circuit as claimed in claim 2, wherein said pulse selective circuit comprises plural flip-flop circuits connected to the input terminals of the plural gate circuits, plural AND gates connected to input terminals for setting of the flip-flop circuits, and plural AND gates connected to input terminals for resetting of the plural flipflop circuits.

3 1 t t l 

1. A circuit for an electronic musical instrument comprising a multiplex counter circuit, first and second matrix circuits, a plurality of conductors interconnecting said matrix circuits, said second matrix circuit being connected to the output side of said multiplex counter circuit, said two matrix circuits having plural output terminals issuing pulse signals in a successively delayed relationship, changeover switches each having a normally closed contact and a normally open contact being connected to the output terminals of said first matrix circuit, said normally closed contacts and said normally open contacts being connected to respective common conductors, a pulse selective circuit connected to said common conductors and to the output terminals of said second matrix circuit, and plural gate circuits connected to the output side of the selective circuits whereby, upon closing of the normally open contact of any predetermined one of the changeover switches, the corresponding one of said plural gate circuits connected to the output side of the selective circuit is opened to allow a signal to pass therethrough, and upon closing of the normally closed contact, said gate circuit is closed so as to prevent the signal from passing therethrough.
 2. A circuit for an electronic musical instrument comprising a multiplex counter circuit, first and second matrix circuits, a plurality of conductors interconnecting said matrix circuits, said second matrix circuit being connected to the output side of said multiplex counter circuit, said first and second matrix circuits having a plurality of output terminals, the output terminals of said first matrix circuit being connected through a plurality of respective switches to a single common conductor, said conductor having a second conductor diverging therefrom, a NOT circuit interposed in said second conductor, a pulse selective circuit connected to the output terminals of said second matrix, and a pluralIty of gate circuits corresponding in number to said plurality of switches being provided on the output said (gate) selective circuit (circuits) being connected to said NOT circuit by said second conductor and to said plurality of switches by said common conductor whereby, upon closing of any predetermined one of said switches, a corresponding gate circuit is opened to allow a signal to pass therethrough, and wherein opening of the switch closes the gate circuit so as to prevent the signal from passing therethrough.
 3. A circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pulse selective circuit comprises plural flip-flop circuits connected to the input terminals of the plural gate circuits, plural AND gates connected to input terminals for setting of the flip-flop circuits, and plural AND gates connected to input terminals for resetting of the plural flip-flop circuits.
 4. A circuit as claimed in claim 2, wherein said pulse selective circuit comprises plural flip-flop circuits connected to the input terminals of the plural gate circuits, plural AND gates connected to input terminals for setting of the flip-flop circuits, and plural AND gates connected to input terminals for resetting of the plural flip-flop circuits. 